Valencia, Spain

Valencia, Spain

            As we sail into the port of Valencia, the second largest city in Spain, I am amazed to see a skyline of modern and in some cases high rise buildings. And entering the city via a Shuttle Bus it is clearly a modern metropolis with a Fine Arts Center second to none (the architecture is quite on the same scale as the new Opera and Fine Arts Center in Kansas City). A dry riverbed that many years ago ran through the center of the city has been converted to a stunning boulevard with several lanes of traffic on either side decorated by palm and other trees. Young kids and adults play football (soccer) on modern fields at various intervals along the river course. It goes on and on for miles and is perfect for cyclists, joggers, strollers, rollerblades, and more. Every now and then bridges span the width of the riverbed boulevard and are ornamented with statues and sculptures. It is very impressive.

            We are taken to the perimeter, however, of the old city that adorns the center of Valencia. Within its boundaries (pedestrians only, no cars) ancient churches, government buildings, a huge central market, and beautiful plazas. Horse-drawn carriages and outdoor cafes add a bit of flavor to the setting. Debbie spots a tourist information center, we acquire an excellent map, and study it over a cappuccino, cola, and pastry at one of the outdoor cafes. What makes this area so special is that it is not just a tourist destination. Like the river walk in San Antonio that attracts locals and tourists alike, the old city of Valencia does the same. And today being a weekend Saturday, hordes of people stroll about the historical sites, restaurants, and plazas.

            As in most cities in Europe, the central market (Mercado Central) is quite large (this one nearly a football field long and wide). Hundreds of produce are sold in small vendor stands and it is clearly a place that locals use for fresh meat, fish, fruit, nuts, oils, flowers, and more. The colors are simply a show of their own. We stroll through many of the isles taking photos, enduring stench from the freshly gutted and skinned animals, and then enjoying the sweet smell of fruits, flowers, and vegetables.

            Of all places, it was a McDonalds that had the best free WiFi, so we spend an enormous amount of money for a Big Mac, fries, and a soda. Oh yes, the bathroom was for guests only, and we made use of it. Another video of Olie beginning to crawl made us smile and cry; thanks Jessica, we continue to love his pictures and videos. We also got excited about the Missouri football game this evening with Kentucky; we plan to spend a lot of minutes on the ship’s computers as we follow the progress of the game (it will be 6pm our time, 11am in Lexington).

            Returning to the ship we bite the bullet and begin the arduous task of packing for the homeward journey. Tomorrow we will be taking a tour of Montserrat, a famous monetary high on a hill outside Barcelona before continuing on to the airport. We fly to London in the late afternoon and will stay the night in a Marriott near Heathrow, the airport. Our flight to the States is set for 10:15am.

            Ray and Monica will continue aboard the Navigator of the Seas on a transatlantic cruise that eventually reaches Galveston, Texas. Jet lag should not be a problem for them as they will gradually change their watches an hour every day or so. Having met many others making the same voyage, they will have some familiar new friends with whom to interact.

            The evening and the Mizzou vs. Kentucky game awaits us, so I am going to call it a day for the blog. I will update you tomorrow on the outcome of the game, our experience in Montserrat, and how the last day on the ship ended. Stay tuned and enjoy the Valencia pictures posted by Debbie.